The nineth National Assembly has come and gone. During its valedictory session on June 6, the upper chamber reeled out a scorecard of substantial achievements in the last four years, submitting that working cooperatively rather than competitively with the executive arm of government, greatly helped in oiling the wheel of governance and concluded by giving itself an outstanding pass mark.
But to many Nigerians, the Ahmed Lawan-led Senate has been the worst in the nation’s history, describing it as a rubber stamp, lacklustre, insensitive and unproductive.
Nevertheless in all of these brickbats by critics, one thing that cannot be denied is that the 9th Senate was populated by a few shining lights: Men who are highly cerebral. Men with vision and mission. Men with a great sense of duty and purpose. Men with integrity and character who were passionate about leaving enviable footprints in the sands of time. They were instrumental to the making of laws that gave the Fourth Republic some level of respectability.
Unarguably, Senator Dr. Kola Balogun, who represented Oyo South ranked high among this group of eminent and distinguished lawmakers despite being the only PDP senator from Oyo State in the upper house of the National Assembly.
In terms of presentation of critical bills and motions, marshalling of ideas during debates, articulation, empowerment for constituents, diligence in the conduct of oversight functions, Senator Balogun epitomized the refreshing change Nigerians have been clamouring for. He will be remembered as one senator who defended his people to a fault; the trade mark of a true representative of the people.
It is noteworthy that the lawmaker though a one-term senator was a recipient of many awards which included the 2019/2020 Best Senator of the Year Award; 2021 Most Distinguished Son of Ibadanland Award by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII); 2021 Most Media Friendly Senator of the Year by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Chapter and recently the United Nations Guillermo Cano International Award. No senator in the 9th Assembly from the South West geopolitical zone has been so honoured.
It is therefore not surprising that since the end of his tenure, the former lawmaker has been inundated with goodwill messages from far and near all bearing testimony to his impressive and distinctive performance.
Bellow are some of goodwill messages and testimonials to the good works done by Senator Kola Balogun.
I am glad to join your numerous admirers who are happy with you for ending your 4-year tenure as a senator with remarkable and milestone achievements. It is a short time of 4 years but with life-long achievements. I thank and appreciate Almighty Allah who provided you the opportunity to showcase your potential and excellent performance. I am also personally grateful for everything good I received from you most importantly, is the fact that you picked my calls whenever I called you; the assistance and support you rendered to me and people around me has added colour and honour to my personality, I am indeed grateful sir. I pray that Almighty Allah will bless you with sound health, long life and better opportunity to serve people the more in no distance future.You are welcome home from the upper chamber of the National Assembly- Hon. Fatai Salam, Chairman, Parliamentary Caucus of the 7th Oyo House of Assembly.
It was a remarkable story of service and achievements. The future will be better still. Congratulations.- Chief Bayo Oyero, former President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).
My Dearest Best Senator, I will always be proud of you any where, any time, any day of my life. You don’t let me beg for food after my retirement from service, you turned me to be a big farmer from the empowerment programmes you gave me. Trice you gave me and others empowerments, you gave others at the grassroot monthly money to widows of your father father’s father’s (sic). I thank God in your life, you started the journey to 9th Senate well and ended it well without blemish. OLORUN OSE OOOOOO. I pray great appointment awaits you from Tinubu’s regime that will turn Aliiwo to small London and our Baba Olubadan will have good health and long life to eat out of it- Mrs Yemisi Obajeagbadun-Olapade
My Distinguished Senator, let me join numerous beneficiaries of your being senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District to thank you beginning from how you picked my calls at anytime of the day to the Federal Government appointment secured for my daughter and your gifts. Certainly, a more rewarding appointment is awaiting you. Thank you sir. On behalf of my family at home and abroad, we appreciate you sir- Mr. Babalola, former President, Ajorosun Club
You are welcome my distinguished. You have given a good account of yourself and we are proud of you. God bless- Chief Tajudeen Aremu mni, former Head of Service, Oyo State.
Congratulations on the successful completion of your tenure as a senator. We thank you for what you were able to do for the Ogunmola family- Mr Wale Ogunmola of Ogunmola Dynasty of Ibadanland
Distinguished, you have served and distinguished yourself. Ibadan and Oyo State will forever be proud of you. Welcome.You are an icon and epitome of truth in our generation.
Congratulations- Seriki Adeojo.
Congratulations, dear brother. You are just wonderful. Prof. Dapo Afolabi, former Head of Service of the Federation
My Distinguished Senator, Congratulations! Thanks to Allah Tahalah that saw you through with many achievements to be proud of. May Allah uplift you to higher level- Barr. Niyi Ajewole, President General Elect CCII
Congratulations sir. It is not how long but how well. You left a legacy of performance and effective representation. Best wishes- Dr. Babatunde Agbi.
Congratulations sir. You gave us superlative representation. You’re still the best among your equals. Always proud of you sir- Dare Adeleke.
You performed excellently well and I am proud of you. You’re a gentleman to the core- Prof. Soji Adejumo.
Permit me to join others to welcome you back home. You have done extremely well especially on agriculture which is a familiar terrain for me. Your partnership on agricultural empowerment with IAR&T has actually gone a long way in reducing unemployment among Oyo State youths and women and has actually put food on some peoples’ tables. A lot of them have been gainfully employed and some have become employers of labour through the capacity building and empowerment scheme. Well done sir- Dr. Hamzat, IAR&T.
Dear Distinguished, you have proved it several times that you are a worthy son of Ibadanland.Your impeccable successes at the 9th Senate remains a major landmark we will remember for a long time to come.You have indeed made us proud. Congratulations sir- Asiwaju Nurudeen Akinade CCII.
On behalf of all chairmen in Oyo south, we write to heartily congratulate you at the end of your tenure which was highly glorious.
You started well and you ended well to the glory of the Almighty.
We are indeed indebted to you for your unalloyed support to all the down trodden in all our senatorial district. We will never forget the succour you brought to many homes, you raised a lot of people’s hope in the course of serving your people and put smiles on the faces of many.Today, we are rejoicing with you as our HERO in the district. Our simple prayer is that may the Almighty continue to keep you and your family. No evil will befall you. Disaster and affliction will be far from you. Amen. Once again sir, we congratulate you- APC 9 Local Government Party Chairmen in Oyo South Senatorial District.
We thank God for His guidance over our Distinguished Senator, he has performed excellently well despite been a first timer and the initial judicial distractions. May Allah continue to guide and bless him to remain relevant so as to continue his contributions to good governance of the nation- Engr. Kolapo Adisa, a retired P. S. in Oyo State Civil Service
On behalf of members of your team, I congratulate you on the successful end of your tenure at the 9th Senate.There is no doubt that you proved your mettle as a distinguished senator that you are, a first timer for that matter. ln a more civilized clime, you ought to continue and become seasoned in that assembly, bringing more gains to Oyo State. However, I am convinced that you are not done yet on your exploits in the political landscape of Nigeria. God will continue to grant you knowledge, wisdom, understanding and good health as you hope for another opportunity to serve the good people of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole. Once again congratulations and best wishes at all times- Mr. Adeduntan, retired P. S. Oyo State Civil Service
Welcome back my dear brother! You went you saw and you gave a good account of yourself and returned triumphantly! Glory be to God on high. Justice Diran Akintola
Good evening dad. I see on the platform that you are back home. Thanks for all you have done and for serving Nigeria and more importantly, the people of Ibadan in your capacity as a Senator. I continue to thank God for your life and I pray that He will open many doors of favour and blessings for you. This was just the beginning of greater things for you. Love you. Princess Funmi Osinowo, Olubadan’s first contribution to humanity.
Congratulations brother. I thank God for your life. You started well and you ended the 4years well. During the four years despite all the storm God sail you through. I pray for best of luck wherever your next assignment will take to in the nearest future- Otunba Remi Olorunsogo, CEO, Rosego Water Factory, Ibadan.
Glory be to God for a job well-done.
Your tenure will forever be remembered for good. Greater heights and better opportunities in Jesus name- Pastor Akindele.
With these outpouring of accolades, it is glaring that Governor Seyi Makinde was being economical with the truth when he alleged that the distinguished senator underperformed, on the basis of which he stopped him from participating in his party’s senatorial primary election thereby disqualified and disenfranchised him.
It smarks of gross abuse of office, executive recklessness and the height of political imbecility and immorality for the governor to outrightly stop anyone from exercising his constitutional rights to vote and be voted for, in this case, a serving senator and a vibrant mind whose contributions to the development of the people of Oyo South and the nation as a whole cannot be downplayed. What a great disservice to the nation and humanity at large!
The truth is, if Nigerian politicians do not desist from the politics of envy and bitterness, the country would continue to sacrifice merit on the altar of mediocrity and sycophancy therefore leaving the nation in the throes of underdevelopment for a long time.
